Binding making apparatus

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SELECTED LENGTHS OF BINDINGS, SUCH AS SHOELACES OR THE LIKE, HAVING END PROTECTIVE MEANS DISPOSED ON THE ENDS THEREOF COMPRISING A LONG LENGTH OF BINDING MATERIAL HAVING A PLURALITY OF FERRULES DISPOSED ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF AT SPACED INTERVALS. THE FERRULES ARE OF A SUITABLE LENGTH AND CROSS SECTION SO AS TO BE SLIDABLE ALONG THE BINDING MATERIAL TO SELECTED POSITIONS AND ARE DEFORMABLE OVER THE BINDING MATERIAL SO THAT WHEN SO DEFORMED THEY WILL PROVIDE END PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR A SELECTED LENGTH OF BINDING WHICH MAY BE CUT FROM THE BINDING MATERIAL. SUITABLE DEFORMING MEANS ARE PROVIDED AS A COMPONENT PART OF THE MEANS FOR CONTAINING THE LENGTHS OF THE BINDING MATERIAL.

- 1971 D. SCHEFF BINDING MAKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1969 INVENTOR. DAVID SCHEFF Q BY &

L LML 7, 1971 D. SCHEFF BINDING MAKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1969 INVENTOR.

DAVID SCHEFF ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,624,870 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 U.S. Cl. 24-143 R 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for making selected lengths of bindings, such as shoelaces or the like, having end protective means disposed on the ends thereof comprising a long length of binding material having a plurality of ferrules disposed along the length thereof at spaced intervals. The ferrules are of a suitable length and cross section so as to be slidable along the binding material to selected positions and are deformable over the binding material so that when so deformed they will provide end protective means for a selected length of binding which may be cut from the binding material. Suitable deforming means are provided as a component part of the means for containing the lengths of the binding material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to binding apparatus and, more particularly, to a novel means for providing bindings such as Shoelaces, and the like, of any desired length.

One of the more irritating situations that a person may find himself in is when he is dressing for a particular occasion and breaks a shoelace having no spare on hand to replace it. In many cases, this presents no great tragedy since he can usually stop by the drugstore and purchase a replacement. However, the problem is severely compounded if he leaves his home on the way to his appointment, stops by the drugstore and the drugstore is either out of the particular type of lace which he needs or, Worse still, is closed. The frequency with which this type of occurrence reappears in the average family would seem to encourage the having on hand at all times of at least one pair of spare laces for each pair of shoes that one possesses. However, people being as they are, this is rarely the case and if any spare laces are on hand at all, they are almost always of the wrong color or length.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a means for preparing bindings, such as shoelaces or the like, of any desired length in a simple, inexpensive and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a a long length of binding material having a plurality of end fittings loosely positioned thereon which can be selectively positioned and then secured to the material at selected locations so that a desired length of finished binding may be cut therefrom.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple shoelace making kit suitable for forming an accessory to ones collection of shoe care equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes at least one spool or other containing means for a long length of cording or lacing material, said material having loosely positioned along the length thereof a plurality of end fittings which may be selectively positioned and secured thereto to form the ends of a selected length of shoelace or the like, which may be cut from the bulk length of material.

The many advantages of the present invention will be apparent to the reader after having read the following detailed description of preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a spool of lacing material having a plurality of end fittings randomly spaced along the length thereof in accordance with thepre sent invention.

FIG. 2 indicates the manner in which the end fittings may be selectively positioned along the lacing material in the preparation of a shoelace.

FIG. 3 illustrates the finished shoelace after the end fittings have been crimped around the ends and the lace cut from the stock material.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a shoelace making kit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detail of an end fitting in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of a shoelace making kit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of an end fitting in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate an alternative end fitting in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 a spool 10 about which is wrapped a length of shoelace stock material 12 which may be of any suitable constituency and which may, as an additional feature, include some type of length marking means 14. The marking means 14 may be as simple as a chalk mark which may be rubbed from the material or may include a colored thread woven into the lacing material. The type of mark is not important so long as it can be visible to one using the present invention. The purpose of the mark is to allow the user to count off a predetermined number of marks equivalent to a given length rather than having to have on hand an additional measuring device. As an example, the marks 14 might be placed every inch of every two inches or at any other convenient separation which can be used as a length determining measure.

Disposed along the length of stock material 12 which is wrapped about the spool 10 are a plurality of ferrules 16 which are large enough in inside diameter to allow them to be slid along the stock material to a selected location. The ferrules 16 are of a suitable type for allowing them to be crimped or shrunk around the stock material 12 to form end fittings for the shoelace to be made. They are typically of thin metal or plastic long enough to provide the desired shoelace end and have an initial passageway therethrough large enough to permit easy movement along the lace material.

In application of the present invention, the user will determine the length of shoelace which he desires and will slide a ferrule 18 such as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing to a mark 14 near the end of the stock material 12. The ferrule 18 is then crimped or otherwise affixed to the material 12 to form the end fitting at the end 18. He will then count back along the material 12 the number of marks required to make up the length which he desired and then slide the ferrule 20 to that position. The ferrule 20 is then crimped or otherwise secured to the material 12 at the position 22 and the material is trimmed at the points 14 and 22 to form the finished lace 24 illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

It will thus be seen that in accordance with the present invention, a tailor-made shoelace of a desired length has been quickly formed and may be immediately used.

Turning now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, there is shown a simplified embodiment of a lace making kit in accordance with the present invention. The kit includes a suitable container 30 having means for containing one or more spools 32 of lace stock of the type disclosed above. The spools 32 may either contain different types of laces or different colors, or a combination of both. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the stock material on each spool includes a plurality of ferrules disposed thereon as indicated in FIG. 3.

The container 30 may include grooves 34 cut in the upper portion thereof through which the stock material 36 may be threaded. The frontal portion 38 of the housing 30 is preferably recessed to accommodate a crimping tool 40 which is pivotally attached to the container 30 at 42. The recessed portion 38 also includes a suitable dispensing opening 44 and a crimping slot 46 which is suitably configured to mate with the crimping die 48 for crimping the ferrule 50 placed therein as the handle 40 is rotated into the closed position as shown by the dashed lines 52. As an additional feature, the crimping die 48 may also include a cutting member (not illustrated) for simultaneously trimming the lace as the crimp is made.

It will thus be seen that in using this compact device, one Will place the ferrule 50 at a suitable position near the end 54 of the stock material 56 which has been withdrawn from one of the spools 32, then place the ferrule 50 into the crimping groove 46 and rotate the handle 40 downwardly to form that end of the lace. The handle 40 will then be rotated back to the position shown so that the end 50 can be lifted out of the crimping groove 46. The next ferrule is then positioned at the desired lace length along the material 56 and is placed in the crimping groove 46 and the crimping process repeated to form the completed lace.

Although the ferrules in accordance with the. present invention may take any of numerous forms and configurations, a simplified metal ferrule is indicated in FIG. of the drawing and might, for example, be formed of a strip of thin metal cylindrically formed about the lace material 62 and slightly overlapping itself at 64. A ferrule of this type can be easily crimped with the simple crimping tool illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

In FIG. 6, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated for use in heat forming the lace ends by means of a suitable heating element 66 which is positioned about a cylindrical dispensing opening 68 formed in the container 70 that is otherwise similar to the kit illustrated in FIG. 4. The heating element '66 may be energized through a switch 71 by ordinary line current or a self-contained battery power supply. In accordance with this embodiment, the ferrules positioned along the stock material are formed of a heat shrinking plastic material which, after being disposed at the selected positions along the lace stock 72 are positioned within the opening 68 where they are subjected to heat sufficient to shrink them about the lace material to form the desired lace end fittings. The material chosen for the end fitting must have a shrinking temperature less than the ignition temperature of the lace material 72 so as to prevent the spontaneous ignition thereof or the causing of other charring damage thereto. This temperature would, of course, be controlled by the design of the heating element 66.

Although the ferrules used in the present invention may be cylindrical in form, it may be found desirable to make them more elliptical or rectangular-like in cross section so as to better facilitate winding of the stock material about the spools 32. The ferrule 74, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, could be or very nearly the same size and configuration of the lace material 76 so that the material could be easily wound about the spool without producing the lumpy winding which might accompany the use of the round ferrules such as illustrated 4 in FIG. 5. However, whether this is a consideration depends on the size of the spool 32, the type of lacing material used and the amount of material which is to be placed thereon. That is, for a fairly large spool with loosely wrapped material, a rather bulky ferrule would not be cause for concern.

However, where the spool is smaller, as in a compact travel unit, for example, it would be more desirable to eliminate the bulky character of the ferrule so as to allow a maximum length of lace material to be compactly wrapped about the spool. Moreover, in such applications it would be an advantage to use the elliptical ferrule 74 since it would be somewhat flexible and could be more easily wrapped than the cylindrical version.

In FIGS. 8 through 11 still another type of end fitting is illustrated which may be used in accordance with the present invention. This device 80 is a spring type member having a generally cylindrical resilient body portion 82 and a pair of wing-like levers 84 formed integrally therewith which can be used to open up the body portion 82 by forces applied to the edges 86 as illustrated in FIG. 9. With the body portion opened the lace 88 can be inserted into the opening 90 such that when the forces F (applied by squeezing between the figures) are removed the resilient body portion returns to its normal position as shown at 92 in FIG. 10 clamping itself securely about the lace 88. The levers 84 no longer being required are then rotated upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 10 and break away from the body portion at 94 and 96 leaving the cylindrically shaped end fitting 82 firmly secured to the end of the lace 88.

For use with some types of lace material it may be desirable to provide some type of mastic coating or burred finish upon the interior surface 90 of the end fitting 82 so as to insure a permanent adhesion to the end of the lace. This would probably be needed where very soft or slippery materials are used as the lace material.

Although only a simplified embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described above, it should be noted that the present invention may be utilized in other applications wherein it is desirable that selected lengths of flexible stock material requiring some type of end fitting be fabricated. For example, the present invention would be quite applicable in forming selected lengths of hemp rope which require that some type of means be provided at the ends of a cut length to prevent fraying. In certain applications, it may be more desirable not to place the end fittings along the length of the stock material but rather to provide them separately for insertion over the ends of the cut piece of material for affixation thereto.

Moreover, the invention will be applicable to any type of flexible material such as braided cloth, leather, braided plastics or any other type of material wherein it is desirable that an end fitting be provided on a cut length thereof.

Whereas the present invention has been described more or less specifically with relation to preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that many other modifications and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in art. It is therefore to be understood that this description of preferred embodiments is for purposes of illustration only and is in no manner intended to 'be limiting in any way. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making selected lengths of binding having end protective ferrules disposed on the ends thereof, comprising:

a length of binding material;

a plurality of ferrules disposed along the length of said binding material at spaced intervals, each of said ferrules including, a resilient, generally tubular portion having a longitudinal slit along one side thereof, and lever means frangibly secured to said tubular portion proximate said slit, said lever means being and said deforming means includes a crimping means for operative to open said tubular portion along said slit crimping a ferrule into fixed engagement with said binding in response to one set of forces applied thereto wherematerial.

by the ferrules may be selectively positioned along 4. Apparatus for making selected lengths of binding the length of said binding material, and to break away 5 as recited in claim 2 wherein said ferrules are made of a from said tubular portion in response to another set heat shrinkable plastic material and said deforming means of forces applied thereto leaving said tubular portion includes a heating means for raising the temperature of a in engagement with said binding material; and ferrule sufficiently to shrink the heated ferule into fixed container mean-s for dispensing said binding material. engagement with said binding material.

2. Apparatus for making selected lengths of binding 10 having end protective means disposed on the ends thereof, References Cited g g t UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. eng 0 m ingma eri a plurality of deformable ferrules disposed on said g i binding material at random points along its length; 15 264663O 7/1953 ifi f X and container means for dispensing said binding material, i 52 said container means including a dispensing open- 225950S 10/1941 g 24 255 A UX ing through which said binding material is passed, said dispensing opening having a ferrule deforming 20 DONALD A GRIFFIN Primary Examiner means for selectively securing said ferrules to said binding material. US Cl. 3. Apparatus for making selected lengths of binding as 24 255 A recited in claim 2 wherein said ferrules are made of metal 

